Fifteen detained after Belgian police kill Islamist gunmen

A police officer blocks the Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgian police arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers 'in public roads and in police stations', prosecutors said. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Belgian authorities say at least 13 people have been detained in Belgium and two arrested in France in an anti-terror sweep following a firefight in which two suspected terrorists were killed. (Jan. 16)

Members of the forensic team arrive at Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgian police arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers 'in public roads and in police stations', prosecutors said. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

A member of the forensic team takes pictures at Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgian police arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers 'in public roads and in police stations', prosecutors said. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Members of the forensic team work at Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgian police arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers 'in public roads and in police stations', prosecutors said. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

A journalist reads a newspaper about the Belgian police raid, near Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgian police arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers 'in public roads and in police stations', prosecutors said. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

A police officer blocks a street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 16, 2015, after police shot dead two suspects in a gun battle after they opened fire on officers with heavy weapons, and arrested a third man. Belgium was on high alert after two suspected jihadists were killed in a police raid, while German and French police made fresh arrests to put Europe on edge a week after the Islamist attacks in Paris. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images)

Police block Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two were killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Police block Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two were reportedly killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Two were killed and one was wounded during an anti-terror raid in the Belgian town of Verviers.

Police cars and vans are parked in a street as police set up a large security perimeter in the city center of Verviers, eastern Belgium, where three people were reportedly killed in an anti-terrorism operation on January 15, 2015. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15, with reports saying there were three deaths. Public broadcaster RTBF reported three deaths and said explosions were heard at the scene, but there was no immediate confirmation. The incident comes as Europe is on high alert after 17 people were killed in the Islamist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris last week. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY
--BELGIUM OUT-- (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

Police block Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two were killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Police block Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two were reportedly killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Police block Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two were reportedly killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Journalists and residents stand near police vehicles as police set a large security perimeter in the city center of Verviers on January 15, 2015, during a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers today, with reports saying three people had been killed. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY ***BELGIUM OUT*** (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

A police officer walks near locals as police set a large security perimeter around 6 Colline street in the city center of Verviers, eastern Belgium, where three people were reportedly killed in an anti-terrorism operation on January 15, 2015. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15, with reports saying there were three deaths. Public broadcaster RTBF reported three deaths and said explosions were heard at the scene, but there was no immediate confirmation. The incident comes as Europe is on high alert after 17 people were killed in the Islamist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magazine and a Jewish supermarket in Paris last week. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY
--BELGIUM OUT-- (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

Journalists and residents stand near police vehicles as police set a large security perimeter in the city center of Verviers on January 15, 2015, during a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation. Public broadcaster RTBF reported three deaths and said explosions were heard at the scene, but there was no immediate confirmation. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY ***BELGIUM OUT*** (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

Belgium's federalprosecutor Eric Van der Sypt gives a press conference in Brussels, on January 15, 2015 after an anti-terrorist operation during which two were reportedly killed. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group was about to launch 'large-scale' attacks in the country after returning from Syria. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ **Belgium Out** (Photo credit should read LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ/AFP/Getty Images)

Belgium's federal prosecutor spokesman Eric Van der Sypt (C) talks to the press at a press conference in Brussels, on January 15, 2015, after an anti-terrorist operation during which two were reportedly killed. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group was about to launch 'large-scale' attacks in the country after returning from Syria. AFP PHOTO / EMMANUEL DUNAND (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Police officers work in a cordoned off section of Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two suspected jihadists were killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police shot dead two suspects in a huge operation against jihadists who had returned from Syria and planned an imminent attack, a new horror for Europe just days after the Paris massacre. Prosecutors said a third suspect was injured after heavily-armed militants with Kalashnikov assault rifles opened fire on police carrying out a raid on a property in Verviers, eastern Belgium. AFP PHOTO / ANP / MARCEL VAN HOORN
--NETHERLANDS OUT-- (Photo credit should read MARCEL VAN HOORN/AFP/Getty Images)

Policemen and forencic police work into a marked out perimeter in Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two men were reportedly killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / BRUNO FAHY ** BELGIUM OUT ** (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

Policemen and forencic police work into a marked out perimeter in Colline street in Verviers, eastern Belgium, on January 15, 2015, after two men were reportedly killed during an anti-terrorist operation. Belgian police launched a 'jihadist-related' anti-terrorism operation in the eastern town of Verviers on January 15. According to the Belgian prosecutor's office, the group which police targeted was about to commit a terror attack. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / BRUNO FAHY ** BELGIUM OUT ** (Photo credit should read BRUNO FAHY/AFP/Getty Images)

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(Reuters) - Belgian police were questioning 13 suspects on Friday detained during raids against an Islamist group they feared planned to attack police and two other people were held in France, state prosecutors said.

A spokesman told a news conference there was still no apparent link to last week's Islamist attacks in Paris and the identities of two gunmen killed during one of the raids on Thursday, in the eastern town of Verviers, had yet to be confirmed.

As well as guns, including four AK-47 assault rifles, and explosives, police uniforms were found in the apartment at Verviers, spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt said, adding: "This group was on the point of carrying out terrorist attacks aiming to kill police officers in the streets and in police stations."

Asked about a report of a plan to behead a policeman - an echo of Islamist violence elsewhere, including an attack on an off-duty soldier in London in 2013 - he declined comment. He said there had been plans for attacks across Belgium.

He would not say where in France the two suspects there were detained at the request of the Belgian authorities.

Some of the suspects had recently returned from Syria.

In separate operations that officials said were unrelated, German and French counter-terrorism police also made arrests.

Belgian security forces were on high alert, with extra armed security in evidence at some public buildings, notably police stations. Public broadcaster RTBF said officers were told not to be on the streets alone while in uniform.

Some Jewish schools in Belgium and the Netherlands were closed, reflecting the heightening of an atmosphere of caution that has prevailed across Europe since Islamist gunmen killed 17 people in Paris last week at a Jewish grocery and the offices of the satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

Belgian officials were expected to give more details of their investigation on Friday but have said they had no grounds to see a link to the French attacks for now. A separate inquiry is probing whether the Paris gunmen obtained arms in Belgium.

A third man in Verviers was under arrest and being questioned as were several people held in a number of raids in and around the Belgian capital Brussels.

A former Belgian counter-terrorism chief told public broadcaster RTBF that the Charlie Hebdo attacks could have prompted Belgian police, who say they already had the suspects under surveillance, to bring forward the arrests.

"Paris may have speeded things up, in the sense that every country in Europe is on alert," said Andre Jacob. "Some information that may have been barely 'ripe' has been acted on quicker than planned ... because the threat was real."

The fact that the two unidentified men opened fire with assault weapons on police who called at the apartment in Verviers showed the danger the group posed, Jacob added.

On Thursday, prosecutors said the suspects had been on the point of launching "terrorist attacks on a grand scale".

All three Verviers suspects were citizens of Belgium, which has one of the biggest concentrations of European Islamists fighting in Syria.

Earlier on Thursday, in an apparently unrelated development, police detained a man in southern Belgium whom they suspected of supplying weaponry to Amedy Coulibaly, killer of four people at the Paris Jewish grocery after the Charlie Hebdo attack.

Belgian media quoted a national lawmaker as saying phone taps prompted the operation. There has been concern in Europe that the French attacks, carried out by known radicals not seen as priority threats by security forces, might cause other groups to capitalize on public anxiety by accelerating plans to act.

ISLAMIST STRENGTH

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel raised the national alert level to three from two on a four-point scale. "We are not aware of any specific or concrete threats, however, in the situation we can consider it is useful to raise the level of prudence and vigilance," he told Reuters.

With half a million Muslims, mostly of French-speaking North African descent, among its 11 million people, Belgium has seen similar discontent to that in France among young, unemployed children of immigrants in blighted, post-industrial towns like Verviers, once a major center for wool and other textile mills.

A young Frenchman of Algerian origin is facing trial in Belgium, accused of shooting dead four people at the Jewish Museum in the capital Brussels last May.

Per head of population, more Belgians have taken part in the fighting in Syria than any other European state. The Belgian government believes about 100 of its nationals have come back with combat experience. A further 40 may have been killed and about 170 are still in the ranks of fighters in Syria and Iraq.

Public television RTBF showed video from Verviers of a building at night lit up by flames, with the sound of shots being fired. Late into the evening, police commandos were controlling some streets and checking other sites. Crime scene investigators were at work.

"I heard the sound of grenades, bursts of gunfire ... I'm a bit shocked, a bit afraid, surprised it could happen here."

Belgium has taken a lead in EU efforts to counter the threat perceived from the return of "foreign fighters" from Syria. It is also part of the U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State. Six Belgian F-16s have taken part in bombing Syria and Iraq.

A court in Antwerp is due to deliver its verdict on 46 people accused of recruiting young men to join jihadists or of becoming jihadists in Syria, Belgium's largest Islamist militant trial to date. The court was to have given its verdict this week, but it was delayed for a month after the Paris violence.

German police said on Friday they had arrested two people following a raid on 12 homes and a mosque group linked to radical Islamic Salafists. The arrests followed months of investigation into five Turks suspected of "preparing a serious act of violence against the state in Syria".

A police spokesman said the suspects were probably part of an extremist cell that had recruited fighters for Syria.

French police arrested a dozen people suspected of helping the Islamist militant gunmen in last week's Paris killings. (Editing by Philippa Fletcher)